White Perch

The White Perch (Morone americana), is not a true perch. It is a species of fish from the temperate bass family Moronidae. Although favoring brackish waters, it is also found in fresh water and coastal areas from the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario south to the Pee Dee River in South Carolina.

White perch are a popular game fish, and also are fished commercially, for instance in Chesapeake Bay. The raw meat is of a somewhat pinkish hue but, when cooked, it is white and flaky. In some areas they are considered an invasive species and may not be returned to the water if caught. The state of Indiana has mandated, in law, that all white perch caught be killed; an effort to reduce or eliminate the populations invading bodies of water.

White perch are known to eat the eggs of many species native to the Great Lakes, such as walleye and other true perches. At times, fish eggs are 100% of its diet.

White perch are a prolific species. The female can deposit over 140,000 eggs in a spawning session, lasting just over a week. Several males will often attend a spawning female, and each may fertilize a portion of her eggs. The young hatch within 1 to 6 days of fertilization.